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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Dog house dust linked to lower risk of asthma

Homes with dogs may protect children from
developing childhood asthma.

Dogs are often called man’s best friend – but they may also protect children from developing asthma.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, showed that house dust from homes with dogs appears to protect against infection with a common respiratory virus that has been linked to the development of asthma in children.

For the study, the scientists fed mice with house dust from homes with dogs, which made them less vulnerable to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common childhood airway infectious agent.

They compared this group with mice that were infected with RSV without exposure to the dust and a control group of mice not infected with RSV.

Many children develop mild to severe symptoms from RSV infection, but severe infection in infancy is associated with a higher risk of developing childhood asthma, the researchers say.

Pets in the home beneficial to health

However, exposure to the dog house dust gave the mice a distinct gastrointestinal bacterial composition that appears to protect them from the symptoms associated with RSV infection, including inflammation and mucus production.

The researchers showed in a previous study that house dust in homes with pets such as dogs or cats features different bacterial communities than house dust in homes with no pets.

This research was presented as part of the 2012 General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology this month.

While inhalation and ingestion of a little bit of house dust is unavoidable, too much house dust may be harmful. Studies show that house dust can contain pollutants such as chemicals and toxins that may be harmful to human health – especially to the developing bodies and immune systems of children.

Regular cleaning, use of non-toxic products and air cleaning can help reduce those risks.

AllerAir has developed portable and powerful air purifiers for the home and office that feature the most complete filtration system with activated carbon, HEPA, pre-filters and optional UV germicidal filtration.

The information presented in this blog is basic and general in nature. It should never replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your medical practitioner for advice concerning your particular health concern.